Rivals rally in politically deadlocked Iraq

Thousands of Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s followers prayed outside parliament on Friday in a show of support for the populist leader

Supporters of Iraq's powerful Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr gathered for Friday prayers ahead of a counter-rally by their opponents later in the day.

The opposing demonstrations are the latest turn in a political standoff which has so far remained peaceful in the war-scarred country.

Thousands of supporters of Mr. Sadr, who once led a militia against American and Iraqi government forces, gathered for the traditional weekly prayers near parliament inside the normally secure Green Zone.

A week earlier, Mr. Sadr had called out tens of thousands of his followers for prayers in the area, home to government and diplomatic buildings.

For nearly two weeks, his supporters have held a sit-in, first inside the legislature, and more recently on its grounds.

Their protest, triggered by a rival bloc's pick for prime minister, reflects months of failed negotiations by Iran's political forces to form a government after October elections.

Outside parliament Umm Hussein, a Sadr supporter in her 50s, said she was there to protest "the regime that for 20 years has done nothing for the people, except plunder and steal public money".